The Bet of Knowledge≡The Literature of Subjectivity and Mystery
Symbolism was a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction to Realism and Naturalism. Focusing on subjectivity, mystery, and the musicality of language, Symbolism sought to express the deepest emotions and states of mind, rejecting the objectivity and materialism of these earlier periods.
The movement was influenced by 19th-century philosophical and religious currents, such as idealism and spiritualism, which believed in a reality beyond the physical world. Poets such as Charles Baudelaire, with his work The Flowers of Evil (1857), and Stéphane Mallarmé, with The Raven, were pioneers of Symbolism in France. In Brazil, the movement gained prominence with poets such as Alberto de Oliveira, Raul de Leoni and Cruz e Sousa, who used poetry to explore themes such as the transcendental and the occult, with a sensorial language full of metaphors.
The historical context of Symbolism was marked by growing industrialization and urbanization, which generated a feeling of anguish and alienation. The movement reflected the search for an escape from reality, in a world that was becoming increasingly mechanized and impersonal.
Symbolism, with its focus on the unconscious and the imagination, influenced modern poetry, highlighting the power of the word as a vehicle for a subjective and sensorial experience.
The Literature That Revealed the Truth
Realism was a literary movement that emerged in the second half of the 19th century, breaking with the idealism and subjectivity of Romanticism. Marked by objectivity, social criticism and psychological analysis of characters, Realism sought to portray life as it really was, without idealizations or sentimental exaggerations.
In world literature, the movement was marked by Madame Bovary (1857), by Gustave Flaubert, as well as the works of Honoré de Balzac and Leo Tolstoy. In Brazil, Realism began in 1881, with the publication of Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas, by Machado de Assis, which innovated by creating an ironic and questioning narrator. Other important works include O Mulato, by Aluísio Azevedo, and Dom Casmurro, also by Machado, which delved deeper into psychological analysis and the famous enigma of Capitu.
The historical context of Realism was influenced by the Industrial Revolution, the advancement of scientific and positivist thought, and the social transformations of the 19th century. In a period marked by inequality and urban changes, realists used literature to denounce hypocrisies and contradictions in society.
The movement influenced modern literature, consolidating a new way of narrating, based on reason and critical observation of reality.
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Literature of Discovery and Colonization
The Quinhentismo was the first literary period in Brazil, developed in the 16th century, during the arrival of Portuguese colonizers. Marked by literature of a descriptive and informative nature, this period was not concerned with art, but rather with documentation and catechetics, serving the interests of the Crown and the Church.
The main characteristic of the Quinhentismo was the production of texts that portrayed the newly discovered lands, their natural riches and the indigenous peoples. The greatest example of this style is the Letter of Pero Vaz de Caminha (1500), which described the first impressions of Brazil. In addition, Jesuit priests, such as Father Anchieta, produced catechetical texts for the conversion of the indigenous people, mixing religious elements and native languages.
The historical context of the Quinhentismo was marked by mercantilism, Portuguese maritime expansion and the project of colonization of Brazil. The literature of this period reflected the European vision of the new land, without yet presenting its own cultural identity.
Although it does not have significant aesthetic value, the Quinhentismo was essential for recording the first contacts between Europeans and indigenous people, giving rise to Brazilian literary history.
Pre-Modernism
Pre-Modernism was a Brazilian literary period that developed between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, serving as a transition between Realism/Naturalism and Modernism. Although not considered an official literary school, the movement brought significant changes in the form and content of literature, paving the way for the aesthetic renewal of 1922.
Marked by a critical view of Brazilian reality, Pre-Modernism highlighted themes such as social marginalization, regionalism and the contradictions of the country after the abolition of slavery. The language became more direct and colloquial, approaching popular orality. Among the main authors, Euclides da Cunha, with Os Sertões (1902), addressed the harsh reality of the Canudos War. Lima Barreto, in Triste Fim de Policarpo Quaresma (1915), criticized society and exaggerated nationalism. Monteiro Lobato highlighted the daily life of the countryside with Urupês (1918).
The historical context of Pre-Modernism was influenced by the beginning of the Old Republic, the growing urbanization and social conflicts. This period prepared the stage for the radical transformation promoted by Modernism, which would break with the academic traditions in Brazilian literature.
Formal Perfection in Literature
Parnassianism was a literary movement that emerged in the second half of the 19th century as a reaction to the sentimentalism of Romanticism. Defending impersonality, objectivity and the search for formal perfection, the Parnassians valued the aesthetics of poetry, using metrical verses, rich rhymes and detailed descriptions. Art should be beautiful in itself, following the motto “art for art’s sake”.
In French literature, the movement had as its main reference the collection Le Parnasse Contemporain, bringing together poets such as Théophile Gautier and Leconte de Lisle. In Brazil, Parnassianism had great strength, being led by Olavo Bilac, author of Profissão de Fé, as well as Alberto de Oliveira and Raimundo Correia, with works marked by technical rigor and exaltation of classical themes.
The historical context of Parnassianism was influenced by the advance of positivism and scientific thought in the 19th century, reflecting a rational and balanced view of art. As the world underwent industrial and social revolutions, the Parnassians moved away from social realism and focused on the structural perfection of poetry.
Despite criticism, Parnassianism left an important legacy in poetry, consolidating aesthetic precision and technical refinement as essential values of literature.
Dante's Journey into the Human Soul
"The Divine Comedy", Dante Alighieri's masterpiece, written between 1308 and 1320, is one of the greatest monuments of world literature. The epic poem, divided into three parts – Hell, Purgatory and Paradise – narrates the author's own journey through these realms, guided by the Roman poet Virgil and, later, by Beatrice, his great love. The work is an allegory of the human soul, symbolizing the search for salvation and the fight against sin.
Dante, who lived in a time of intense political and religious transformations, uses his work to criticize the corruption of the Church and medieval society. Each circle of Hell, each stage of Purgatory and each sphere of Paradise represent not only the spiritual destiny of souls, but also the consequences of human beings' moral choices.
The work is rich in symbolism and philosophy, reflecting on good and evil, human destiny and the relationship between divine justice and human freedom. With his vibrant and detailed style, Dante introduced a new worldview, transforming Western literature and culture. The Divine Comedy remains essential reading, influencing countless authors and thinkers down the centuries.
Challenged the Frontiers of Reason and Freedom
Voltaire, the pen name of François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), was one of the greatest thinkers of the French Enlightenment. A philosopher, writer and reformer, his work transcended the boundaries of literature and philosophy, profoundly influencing modernity. Known for his incisive criticism of religious intolerance, social inequality and political authority, Voltaire became a central figure in the fight for freedom of expression and human rights.
Among his most important works are Candide, which satirizes the philosophical and social conceptions of the time, and Philosophical Letters, in which he reflects on English society, which he considered more tolerant and modern than French society. Voltaire also stood out for his support of enlightened despotism, arguing that enlightened rulers could promote reforms for the benefit of the people.
With his eloquence and critical vision, Voltaire became a symbol of intellectual resistance. His ideas helped pave the way for the revolutionary ideals of 1789 that led to the French Revolution. His legacy endures, as he is remembered as a champion of reason, freedom, and justice in a changing world.
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